McAfee Updates Mobile Security With Remote Tracking, Data Wipes

McAfee's latest Mobile Security 2.0 enables remote data wipes, tracking and locks, as well as the ability to tell when applications are accessing personal data.

McAfee
introduced a new version of Mobile Security to protect smartphones and tablets
from malicious applications and Web malware.
Mobile
Security 2.0 offers antivirus, anti-theft services and protection from
malicious Websites and applications, McAfee said Jan. 30. The security software
also includes online device management where users can remotely wipe data on
the device and on a removable Secure Digital (SD) card.

Call and Short
Message Service (SMS) filtering capabilities to block unwanted calls and spam
text messages are also part of the latest version. Uninstall protection
features prevent unauthorized users from uninstalling or bypassing McAfee
security features, according to McAfee.

McAfee added
an application-protection feature called App Alert to Mobile Security, which
provides users with information about what the applications are doing with
users' personal information. Although users can already see what phone
functions the applications are accessing, App Alert simplifies the list by
highlighting applications that request access to personal information such as
the contacts list.
"It is
increasingly clear that using a smartphone without security means any sensitive
information, such as photos, bank account information or company data on that
mobile device is at risk of falling into the wrong hands," said John
Thode, executive vice president and general manager of consumer, mobile and
small business at McAfee.
Mobile
Security 2.0 scans and cleans malicious code from files, memory cards,
applications, downloads, text messages and attachments. It relies on threat
data collected and analyzed by the McAfee Global Threat Intelligence network to
identify and block new threats, according to McAfee. Along with a comprehensive
antivirus, users also receive anti-spyware and anti-phishing protection. Users
are protected from commercial spyware, adware and dialers, even if they were
downloaded as part of a legitimate application, McAfee said.
McAfee
SiteAdvisor protects users from malicious URLs in SMS communications and emails,
and on social networking sites. Users are also warned against potential
phishing sites, browser exploits and malicious QR (or quick response) codes.
The online
device management features would help protect the data stored on the devices in
case of theft or loss. In Cisco's second annual "Connected World
Technology Report" released last November, more than half of young
professionals and college students said they'd rather lose their wallets or
purses before losing their mobile devices.
For those
users, McAfee Mobile Security comes with features that allow them to track
their phones remotely. The built-in GPS capabilities can be activated to view
the device's location on a map and use a remote alarm that makes the device
"scream" to help find it, according to McAfee. Users would also be
able to remotely lock access to the data, both on the device and on the SD card,
and display an SMS communication on the lost device with "contact me"
information for returns.
Before the
data is permanently deleted, users can also decide to remotely back up all the
information, McAfee said. The remote wipe can be initiated with a SMS
communication containing a predefined kill code. Users would be able to
download the backup to a new device.
Although
Mobile Security 2.0 is available for Android smartphones and tablets,
BlackBerry devices and Symbian OS phones, App Alert is available only for the
Android platform. Available immediately, McAfee Mobile Security is priced at
$29.99. Existing users can upgrade for free, McAfee said.